Are termites dangerous? Well, to your home, the answer is a definite yes. However, to you? Not really, unless you count the home collapsing on you because they’ve eaten through the timber, if not the financial damage they’ve caused you. Either way, termites are something you never ever want to deal with, especially in your home.

That being said, if you’re here today to learn more about termites to better get rid of them, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about that:

What Is a Termite?

If you’re not sure what a termite exactly is, don’t worry, you’re most certainly not alone. There are over a thousand different kinds of termites, both in the United States and worldwide.

However, in short, termites are small insects that live in huge colonies. Their colonies tend to be located underground, though you can find them above ground too.

What Does a Termite Look Like?

If you could see a termite, it would be difficult to mistake it for any other insect because it’s so unique looking. Its body comes in multiple colours, including black, brown, green, grey, and even red.

That being said, the most common colouring you’ll find on a termite is a tan or cream colour. A termite’s size typically ranges from one to two inches, which is much smaller than you may think.

How Do Termites Damage Your Home?

The first thing we need to understand is that termites don’t devour wood because they’re hungry but because it’s their source of food. When termites are in your home, the first thing they target is wood, and once they see it, they go crazy.

When termites are inside your home, they attack wood in a variety of ways. Using chemicals and acid, they break it down as much as possible before liquefying it. Once that’s done, they’ll start chewing on it using their strong jaws.

That’s not the worst thing that can happen, however. The worst thing that can happen is that they’re there in the shadows, slowly devouring the wood in your home. Without knowing the damage, they can continue putting your home’s structural integrity at risk, and sooner or later, this can lead to a collapse that you did not expect!

Where Do Termites Typically Hide?

While most termites can hide in places like the soil, the termites that actually do damage to your home are often found living in the wood itself. After they’ve eaten through it, they’ll create a nest where they can grow in population and continue eating the wood around them.

This, of course, is a problem that you need to address right away. Failure to do so means more termites are around, damaging your home!

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a lot more to termites than people are often willing to admit. Although the termites themselves are harmless, they can quickly put your home’s structure at risk if you don’t take action soon.

If you have found termites in your home, it’s important to have them treated right away before they start destroying your home. Be sure to contact professionals to address them for you to ensure a thorough elimination of termites and a true understanding of the damage they’ve caused to you!

Benchmark Pest Solutions offers innovative pest control services that are guaranteed to get rid of your pest problems. If you are looking for Sunshine Coast pest control, reach out to us today!